capeandcowllogs | excellence is doing ordinary things

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excellence is doing ordinary things

WHO: "Janet Black" and Mitchell Hundred
WHERE: City Hall, Hall of Records
WHEN: Monday, 7/2
WARNINGS:
SUMMARY: Selina dons an alias and a disguise and starts her first day of work at City Hall.
FORMAT: Brackets? If that's okay?

[ Selina and aliases go together like peanut butter and jelly. It's a lot easier than you'd think, balancing identities and keeping one step ahead of everyone else. Especially now when far too many people are more acquainted with her to her liking. Besides, given the motives for this particular job, a new identity just makes sense.

And so Janet Black attends her first day of work, long blonde hair falling in a sheet down her back and square, stylish glasses completing the newly cooked up persona. The matching ID badge is nice, thank you Eddie. Overall, it's nothing extravagant, but it should do the trick. Sometimes you just need to keep it simple.

Her morning has passed somewhat uneventfully, as eager as she is to dive right into blueprints and other goodies, she's spent most of it pacing between the shelves, learning the proverbial lay of the land. She emerges from a particularly musty section, gaze sweeping deviously over her seemingly empty surroundings.

Maybe now she can start having a bit of fun. ]

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[ Sometimes, Mitch needed to head down to records. There were so many of the city records on the servers anymore that he didn't particularly need to come down here, but just like he favored books and paper, he favored the large blueprints that were still rolls of paper, things he could spread out on a table and look over.

That's why he came today, of course. He needed it for some plan, or the other. Street construction, trying to figure out how to make the flow of traffic run less than shit in New York City was like pulling teeth to begin with, but this one had encountered a few too many accidents, and it was time to start working on fixing that problem.

Nobody could say that the Mayor wasn't totally devoted to his job. It was this fine Monday morning that he trudged down into the quiet, real quiet, the fewer machines, the better it sounded. ]

Excuse me, anyone down here? Or can I just fuck up all this organization and get nasty emails later?

[ Selina is only just running her fingers almost longingly down the rolled up blueprints of a bank when she hears his voice. She scowls, but decides to see how she can turn this in her favor. She hasn't been here long, but she knows exactly who that voice belongs to.

She can definitely make something out of this. ]

Mayor Mitchell. [ She reappears with a pleasant smile, cradling a stack of newspapers that need "refiling" against her chest. ] What brings you all the way down here?

Mayor Hundred, actually. [ He says it almost absently, hands in his pockets, barely giving her a second glance before he looks around the room, considering, or maybe it was that he was listening to the fluorescent lights that flickered in the room. He scoured the records with at eye. ]

I need the street plans for the Queens area. Yes, all of them, so don't ask what part. [ Then he paused. Oh yeah, human things. ]

You're new here, aren't you?

Oh, of course, I'm so sorry! [ She giggles, airy and light and so very unlike herself. ] Um, very new. It's pretty obvious, right?

[ She keeps her eyes on him, but keeps her gaze soft, curious but not intense. ]

Hm, those'll be, right, uh- [ She knows exactly where they are, but takes her time in heading in that direction. ] Right over here.

Edited 2012-07-02 03:26 (UTC)

[ He follows with a hand in his pocket, still distracted, giving the air of not even paying attention to her looks. He noticed them, but his mind was on other things. More important things. Run the City, make sure things were working, make sure Edward was working, figure out how to make everything work. ]

I didn't recognize you, don't worry about it. Your name?

It's Janet. [ Her answer sounds offhanded, and she sets down the newspapers she'd been holding (rather unceremoniously) so she can start plucking the requested street plans from the shelves. ] Janet Black.

[ She holds them in one arm, turning towards him and tapping the badge clipped to her blouse. ]

All of them, you said? [ She passes some to him, so she can continue with the rest. ] Planning something big?

Well, Janet, we've been having some extra complaints about that part of the City, and it's about time I look at the streets. We need to make sure that everything works for the traffic it holds, and if necessary, I'll need to get people on figuring out how to fix it.

[ He pauses in his speech, taking the items as they come, smooth with picking them up. It's obvious he's pretty comfortable with these things. ]

I don't know how familiar you are with my public biography. Was a Civil Engineer once. I like having a hand in these projects myself.

A Civil Engineer?

[ Selina 'ooh's and 'aah's as appropriate, taking note of that for later. It's a bit nice, knowing this place has a political leader that might actually care, but on the other hand, she's not a fan of the poking his head in the musty old hall of records business. ]

I'll be sure to read it. I've only, ah, seen those... posters. Not your own PR agent's work, I assume.

Motherfucker, no those aren't the work of my PR team. [ He doesn't expect the fawning, and barely pays attention to it. He lifts a corner of one of the rolls, looking it over as they move. ]

Those are the work of some prankster, and I'm not sure who. [ He didn't bother making any empty threats, but he was planning on making sure that something happened, but he wasn't sure what. ]

[ She has to fight back a laugh at his reaction, disguising it behind a couple of coughs. Dusty books, and all. ]

Just a joke, sir.

[ She stretches for the last of the street plans, nodding towards an empty table and beginning to spread them out. She glances them over, but they aren't of much use to her. ]

I thought they were a little... charming. Endearing, maybe.

I don't know about that. What kind of person finds shit like that endearing? [ Wow, Mitchell. He stops, realizing that's probably a bit too rude, and bites his lip, moving to help spread them out in that awkward moment of silence. ]

Sorry, that was rude. I'm not used to this public of an uprise, to be honest. People may have hated me at times back home, but that was generally kids with spray-paint, not someone with money to burn on shitty posters.

[ Selina is utterly unfazed by the rudeness, but she feigns a brief expression of hurt before it gives way to an understanding smile. ]

It's alright, you must be under a lot of stress right now. [ She busies herself smoothing out the street plans for him, but her gaze keeps flitting back his way. ] At least posters are easier to clean up than spray paint.

[ He laughed a little bit, shaking his head. ]

Have you tried tearing them down? They've got something up their sleeve. One goes down, more come up. It's a little daunting. [ He paused, shaking his head. ] You don't need to hear about what we've got to deal with upstairs. [ He started looking over the blueprints, the maps, tracing a street with his finger, considering. ]

How are you liking it so far?

On the bright side, that makes it sound more like a joke than something malicious.

[ She watches him carefully as he studies the documents, for hints of dishonesty, signs of corruption--anything of the sort. It's almost disappointing not to notice anything. ]

The city, or working for you?

[ He blinked, turning his head to look her over again. ] The City? So you're an import? [ It was a curious question, one laden with a new look at the woman. ]

Or did you move here for the job? I can never tell. [ At least with people he didn't know who came through the porter. ]

[ Selina gives him a shy smile before looking away, playing it coquettish, running her fingers down the pages before them. ]

I'm an import. [ She answers him quietly, still not lifting her gaze from the blueprints. ] I can't imagine why that... AI would want me here.

[ There's a quiet sigh, and she finally brings her gaze back to his. ]

I think I'd just like to be normal.

Normal? As much as I understand the sentiment, that's going to be hard to achieve around here. Did you have powers before you arrive, or did you get them when you showed up?

[ He was at least a bit more curious now. As much as Mitchell wanted cooperation between import and native, and as much as he was willing to hear their plans and concerns, there was a solidarity that imports didn't have with a normal person. They viewed them like oddities, and Mitchell was more than used to that. All business, all the time, but with imports...it was like finally finding a community where he wasn't the odd one out.

He hadn't felt like that in a long time. ]

[ Selina had planned for "Janet" to be more or less completely mild mannered, but she's starting to feel like taking things in a different direction might be in order. She tilts her head away to hide the sly smile that tugs at her lips. ]

I didn't have powers until I got here, but I haven't figured what they are yet. [ When she looks back at him the smile is no longer sly but cautious, of someone seeking approval rather than someone playing a game. ] Even without powers I wasn't exactly... normal, back home.

We rarely are. I think the Porter delights in finding some of us who are just on the border to normal for a reason. [ His eyes stayed on her for a moment, a long pause, and then he looked back down at the blueprints. ]

Me, for example, smack dab in the middle of that fucking line. How weren't you 'normal'? [ He punctuated it with audible air quotes, even though he didn't raise his hands from the paper, he counted off inches that substituted for yards, quick mental calculations on the traffic. Mitchell Hundred had actually been decent as a Civil Engineer, but the city of New York hadn't been willing to hire back someone with an old Workman's Comp claim. ]

Right on the border, sounds about right.

[ She takes a moment to consider the foundation of her lie. Like her disguise, she wants to keep it simple and managable. There's no telling how long she might need to sustain it. ]

You could say I have a bad habit of getting mixed up with the...heroic types.

Mixed up? [ He asks it curiously, taking a moment to stop staring at the blueprints to look over at her. ] What kind of heroic types do you get mixed up with? Soldiers?

[ She laughs quietly, shaking her head. ]

My life would be a lot more simple if it were just soldiers. I'm talking about the more colorful sort.

What, like fucking superheroes? [ He asks it with something between surprise and curiosity. There's a moment there where his eyes linger for just a moment, and then he looks back down at the blueprints. The wheels start turning, the cogs start to move. He lets the sounds of the small machines in the musty room wash over him, listening to them just as much as he listens to Janet. ]

How'd you get mixed up in that crowd?

Like I said, my life wasn't exactly normal.

[ She gives a slight, one shouldered shrug, turning away from the blueprints to lean against the table instead. ]

It started out as a wrong place, wrong time thing, and then sort of... snowballed.

Doesn't it always? [ There's a rueful smile on his face, oh yes, he really does know that one too well. ]

Don't worry, I won't pry. It sounds like a mess.

[ She looks relieved, matching his smile with one of her own. ]

I'm glad you understand.

[ And here was the part that said a lot for how...odd the Mayor was. He paused for just a moment, before concentrating back on the blueprints, going straight back to work after the nice little anecdote about being weird people tossed into strange situations, but then he stopped, hands flat on the table like he'd just had a thought. ]

So what kind of superheroes did you have? Or I guess what I'm really asking is who?

[ Who? Now that is an interesting question. She can understand the what kind, but what would it matter who? Maybe he just wants to know if any of the heroes from "her world" are here, but something about that question strikes her as especially strange.

Selina proceeds with caution. ]

As far as I know, none of them are here, Sir.

[ Oh. There was a moment where he looks a bit disappointed, mostly because she misunderstood, but he's not about to persue that. Edward had gotten him pretty early, and habits died hard now. Mitchell didn't generally talk about his uncanny and unnerving comic book knowledge in public. ]

Well, that's a shame. [ he paused. ] Or is it a blessing? I'm never quite sure with other people. Not everyone is used to not having people from home show up. [ except for Pherson. Mitch didnt talk about Pherson. ]

[ the look of disappointment doesn't go unnoticed, but again, she's not entirely sure what to make of it. Her gaze narrows from behind her glasses, with just a hint of suspicion. ]

It is what it is.

[ And it's not something she entirely wants to let go, even if it means more of a risk for her and the security of her alias. ]

Are you a fan, Sir? [ The question is posed innocently enough. ] Of the heroes here.

[ He let off a slightly boyish smile. ] You could say that. If anything, I can't hate them for their efforts, I had a career once as a superhero. [ he shakes his head. ] Yeah, I guess you could say I'm a fan.

Did you really?

[ The smile is something she wants to work with, and it's enough to divert her from the prodding at the "who" question. If nothing else, a bit of ego stroking never hurts. ]

Superhero turned politician, or was it the other way around?

Edited 2012-07-02 22:31 (UTC)

[ He laughed, waving his hands and backing from the table. ]

I did, but I was shit at it! I tried the whole superhero bullshit before I figured out I was better at smiling in front of a camera and directing policy.

[ Her laughter is genial and amused, right along with his. ]

If you ask me, clean politics is a superpower in and of itself.

Believe me, in the political sphere? It practically is. [ He says it with a small laugh. ] I would've traded that for any other superpowers, but maybe I'm just a stick in the mud. [ Well, Mitchell was a stick in the mud, but that was a given. ]

If caring about your city makes you a stick in the mud, a few more people could stand to get stuck.

[ There's a bizarre feeling at this turn in the conversation, as her own experiences with crooked politicians and her foray into politics resurface. She shakes the thoughts off, continuing smoothly. ]

But hey, you shouldn't sell yourself short. [ She reaches towards him, letting her hand brush against his elbow briefly, a light, slight touch. ] You're better company than filing cabinets.

[ Although if it were just her and the filing cabinets, she could be photocopying museum blueprints right about now. But how could she possibly turn her nose up at this interesting opportunity? ]

[ Oh. New people. Mitch looked away, back down at his blueprints, feeling that awkward bubble of how to do this gracefully yet again, his old habits of avoidance and playing off every show of affection was almost ingrained. Looking away was easy, but it gave him the distance he needed to back off. Except...

Shit.

He'd promised that he'd take care of it. That he'd make sure that this bullshit wasn't going to come up again, and Janet Black was coming on so hard even Mitchell noticed. There was that sick feeling, the one that cropped up whenever he lied, but this one was an integral one. It wasn't like he was legalizing gay marriage within the week. He knew better, he knew how to make this work better, didn't he? ]

Er, thanks. [ He managed a small quirk of his lips, a motion that probably looked more flirty than he felt. ]

I'll admit it, you're not bad company down here, Miss Black.

[ She's watching him carefully, gaze half hidden by the fake glasses slipping down the bridge of her nose. Men, to her, are open books, easy to read and even easier to predict the ending. There's only been a few that have ever given her trouble, and at the moment she doesn't expect anything unusual from Mitch.

So all continues as normal. ]

Thank you. [ Her voice drops, and she steps closer to him. ] I realize I'm not much more than a lowly paper pusher, but if there's every anything I can do to help...

[ His level of comfort was dropping by the moment, each tick of the lone, analog clock's voice sounding out while he considered going forward, and that sickening free-fall in his stomach continued. Employee. The tradeoff was worth it. The capital he had to spare could take care of any concerns on that front, and everyone in the City knew the Mayor practically didn't leave City Hall.

He let his mouth spread into a boyish smile, the politician's smile. ]

I'm sorry, this is probably forward of me. [ He leaned against the table in a show of very fake, but a very good fake of comfort. ] Shit, it's really forward, but how would you like to go to dinner sometime?

[ There we go. Selina lifts a hand to her face, seemingly out of embarrassment, but it's more to hide the qccomplished smirk on her face. He has his motives, and she has hers. It's a fair trade. ]

Mayor Hundred... [ She sounds giddy, left breathless. ] I would love to.

[ He held up his hands, eyebrows quirking. ] Well, after hours you can just call me Mitchell.

[ After hours. Shit, he couldn't believe he was doing this. ]

So. I'll call you sometime. Maybe later this week? Get things set up? Are you staying at the MAC?

Alright, Mitchell.

[ She doesn't bother to hide the coy smile on her face. ]

That should work. I'm planning a move but I don't quite have the funds yet, so I'm still at the MAC.

[ Mitch's smile is bright, feigning excitement, but not exuberance. He looks happy enough, and in a way, he is, but not exactly for the specific reasons. ]

Well then, I'll call you. You don't mind if I get your number from your phone, do you? It's easier than awkwardly asking for the fucking thing.

Of course not.

[ She's already managed to lift a second communicator for "Catwoman", if she ever finds herself needing it, but both of those are quite safe at come. It would be somewhat compromising to be caught with a communicator that isn't "Janet's". Instead, all she carries with her is a simple, regular old cellphone. ]

Let me just get my phone from my purse.

Edited 2012-07-04 01:49 (UTC)

[ He waited politely for her to bring it, hand back in his pocket, fiddling with his Blackberry in his hands. He could just pull it from her phone across the room, but he was trying not to answer any awkward inquiries about his powers. Give the illusion of bringing all your cards to the table, and then nobody asks any other questions. The only person so far who's been able to see through the façade has been Edward. In all of his years, there's only been one person so perceptive. ]

Of course. [ He paused, and listened, phones gave up their numbers so easily. Really, they gave away way too much information. Messages, e-mails, calls. Janet's was surprisingly quiet. ]

Thank you, ah, Janet. I'll call you later this week, okay? We'll do dinner. [ He looked over at the blueprints. Oh Christ, he still needed to gather those together. He made a shuffling motion, trying to roll them back up together to take them up to his office and get a good look at them up there. ]

[ In a way, Selina is just the opposite. She likes the air of mystery, to make it clear that there are unknowns, things about her to puzzle over and be left wondering about until she tells you otherwise. ]

I look forward to it, Mitchell. [ She pauses, gives a purposeful glance towards the ticking clock and smiles. ] Mayor Hundred.

[ She leans to assist him in gathering up the blueprints, ready to see him on his way. There are other matters to attend to. ]

I'll be down here if you need me. Enjoy the rest of your day, sir.

[ He gathers them up quickly enough, and nods, a small smile on his face. ]

You do the same, alright? I'll talk to you soon.

[ And off he went for the rest of the hardcore mayor work that he was going to get back to. ]

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excellence is doing ordinary things

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